Policy Matters: Oumalker Idil Kalif

Later this year, Canadians will vote in the 43rd federal election. Many non-profit organizations, networks, and coalitions see elections as a critical opportunity to raise relevant public policy issues. Recently, the rules for charities engaging in public policy have become a prominent source of debate and discussion in government and the sector. As we countdown to the next election, The Philanthropist is asking non-profit leaders what public policy issues are top of mind for them.

Given the current political climate in Quebec, a greater and more pragmatic understanding of the realities related to racism and Islamophobia is more crucial than ever. Bill 21, for example, now a law, is being challenged in the courts, pitting the provincial government against the civil society it is supposed to represent. Quebec is showing, in no uncertain terms, how the violation of Canadians’ fundamental rights can further tear the social fabric that is meant to hold society together. How can we foster stronger social cohesion when political strategies of this nature are being advanced by our leaders? How can Canada and Quebec be models of democracy if the very premise of the initiatives that are being put forward and endorsed by those in power is designed to systematically target communities that are already socially disenfranchised and economically impoverished?

What issues would you like to bring more attention to in the election?

A genuine respect for the fundamental rights of all our citizens is what should inherently be guiding politics (and politicians) at all times and in all government departments. Femmes Noires Musulmanes au Québec advocates for black Muslim women in Quebec. We are one of many groups looking to find better ways to address the social inequality that undermines various segments of the population, many of them women, who are all too often overlooked when it comes time to engage in a conversation about ethical public policy. When will real corrective action be taken to ensure we respect the lessons that history has taught us? And how can we keep working together to strengthen our communities and our families?